One thing for sure, Mark Stoops isn’t settling

Doesn’t matter that he inherited a 2-10 team. Doesn’t matter that he inherited a team that didn’t win a game in the SEC last year. Doesn’t matter that, after a 35-26 loss to Western Kentucky last Saturday, you could excuse this season as a rebuilding year.

Stoops isn’t settling.

He’s made a change at quarterback, announcing that Maxwell Smith will start in place of Jalen Whitlow on Saturday against Miami. He’s moving TraVaughn Paschal from a backup defensive end to starting linebacker. He’s determined to find a place for true freshman Blake McClain.

“I’m not looking to scapegoat our players,” Stoops said after Tuesday’s practice. “Us coaches got to do the best job we can to put them in a position to win. With that being said, again, you always look to do what you can do to put them in a position to win. And if that means tweaking some things, changing things up, moving personnel, then you do the best you can.”